Three Analyses Reveal How War with Iran Could Alter US Power Calculations

NEW YORK — Three analytical reports published by the magazines Foreign Policy, Newsweek and Foreign Affairs reveal the complexity of the escalating confrontation between the United States and Iran.

The three reports highlight various military, political and strategic questions regarding the future of the conflict, as well as the limits of Washington’s ability to use military force to achieve its objectives.

One of the reports discusses the possibility of the conflict expanding into ground operations within Iranian territory.

Another examines the options available to the United States in confronting a crisis in the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, the third report places the war in a broader context, as an indication of shifting power balances within the international system.

Foreign Policy magazine assesses that the notion of the United States launching a large-scale invasion of Iran appears unrealistic under current conditions, given the magnitude of the military and geographical challenges Washington would face.

Iran is a country with a vast territory and possesses military capabilities and manpower that would allow it to sustain resistance over a long period.

In addition, the terrain and the complexity of supply routes would make large-scale ground operations far more difficult than previous American military experiences, such as the 2003 invasion of Iraq.